Request for Information (RFI) for

BTA's Defense Agencies Initiative Global Model Solution

Contracting Office Address:

Description:

PURPOSE:The Business Transformation Agency (BTA) Program Management Office (PMO) is conducting this Request for Information (RFI), for it's (i) Oracle Applications expertise in implementing and supporting Oracle Financials-based business solutions, to determine sources with competencies and demonstrated experience in the Defense Agencies Initiatives (DAI) Global Model Solution. The focus areas are on Budget to Report, Procure to Pay, Order to Fulfill, Cost Accounting, Time & Labor, and Asset to Retire process areas and capabilities, and optionally obtain (ii) Compliance and Configuration Management expertise in support of development, maintenance, and implementation of the DAI solution, operations, and provisions.

THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO AWARD A CONTRACT ON THE BASIS OF THIS RFI OR REIMBURSE ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS RFI.

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to the RFI will not be returned.Whatever information is provided in response to this RFI will be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for determining how to proceed in the acquisition process for BTA's DAI Global Model Solution.In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract.

This RFI is a request for all interested parties including small businesses to describe their technical capabilities and demonstrated experience with support for the DAI's Global Model Solution.Interested parties should describe their technical capabilities and demonstrated experience with integration solutions management, business process reengineering, requirements analysis, compliance management, and configuration management. All interested contractors are requested to provide written response to the requested information below.A response to this RFI is necessary in order to assist DISA in determining the potential levels of interest, adequate competition, and technical capability within the Small Business Community to provide the required services.In addition, this information will also be used to assist DISA in establishing a basis for developing any subsequent potential subcontract/small business participation plan and/or small business goal percentages.

The acquisition has 7 tasks as listed below:

Specific Tasks & Considerations:

•·Task Area 1 (Integrated Solutions Management)

The DAI Global Model, developed essentially to address General Fund operations, has been deployed at a number of DoD Agencies.Based on these deployments, and capability needs of Agencies deploying in future, there will be a need to mature the DAI Global Model over and beyond the period of this Task Order.Through this period, new and additional functionality will also need to be incorporated in the Global Model to support Working Capital Fund operations, Grants Management, enhanced Budget Distribution and Management, etc.Such capabilities are currently planned to be in the scope of Release 2.x, and Release 3.x of the DAI Global Model.

True to its imperatives, the DAI Global Model will continue to be developed, enhanced, and matured from a standpoint of implementing (i) common business processes across implementing Agencies, (ii) the maximum use of standard Oracle Applications functionality for providing needed capabilities, (iii) use of common or congruent Application configurations across implementing Agencies, and (iv) leverage of developed and deployed technical objects to support same/similar business functions, across implementing Agencies.The services provided through this Statement of Work, will support the above mentioned imperatives.

The services provided through this Statement of Work, will also support all aspects of enhancement and maintenance towards ensuring that Agency-specific functional and/or technical requirements do NOT alter the Global Model in any fashion, and thereby compromise the effectiveness and integrity of the DAI Global Model.The need for maintaining the 'baseline' Global Model, through its multiple Release cycles and iterations, stems from the imperative that the integrity and applicability of the DAI Global Model will be preserved at all times through the life of the DAI Program.The DAI Global Model will serve as the essence of the DAI solution and must be properly developed and maintained to sustain auditability of the implemented solution.

Through all Releases, the DAI Global Model will be developed, enhanced, and maintained by a team of Oracle Applications specialists that have (i) a detailed knowledge of the deployed Release of the DAI Global Model, (ii) possess expert and all encompassing functional, technical, architectural, and compliance understanding and experience of the subject matter contained within each DAI capability area including reporting, (iii) possess and/or demonstrate expert functional, technical, and architectural experience with the capabilities of Oracle Applications module(s) that support DAI capability areas, and (iv) possess expert experience in Oracle Applications-based technical development and deployment skills to support maintenance and enhancement of technical components that constitute the current, and future releases of the Global Model.

•·Task Area 2 (Business Process Reengineering)

The implementation of the DAI Global Model solution at twenty eight (28) Defense Agencies participating in DAI, will require additional business capabilities by way of functionality, RICE objects, etc., to be designed and developed as an 'extension' to the current release of the Global Model.While the Agency Deployment and Implementation Team will have the main responsibility of implementing DAI Global Model at implementing Agencies, the Core Global Model Team will be responsible for advisement, guidance, analysis, recommendations, and hands-on support for implementation of the DAI Global Model at the Agency.

Also, in an effort to implement the DAI Global Model solution at implementing Agencies, the Agency Deployment and Implementation Team will consult, and work closely with the Global Model Team on aspects of purpose, feasibility, efficiency, development and implementation of capabilities and solutions that are new or Agency-specific in nature.Once deemed feasible, and aligned with the current or future release of the Global Model, the Global Model Team will play a leading role in the design and development of the capabilities, while the Agency Deployment and Implementation Team will play a supporting role, in the development, integration testing, and implementation approaches for the new or Agency-specific capabilities.Frequently, such efforts will be iterative in nature, before the additional/new Agency-specific requirement(s) are fully implemented.The Global Model Team, at all times will maintain the lead through such iterations.The Agency Deployment and Implementation Team and the Core Global Model Team, will share the risk and responsibility of delivering a functioning capability/solution to the Agency Deployment Team.

•·Task Area 3 (Requirements Analysis)

The specialists from this Task will also play a role in providing services along the lines of a Solution and an ERP Architect.The role will include, but not be limited to the following:

•·Manage DAI Applications activities, including oversight of the design, development, and implementation of capability and RICE components of the DAI functional architecture.

•·Responsible for understanding internal and external customer needs, and designing processes and solution that will allow customers to implement DAI in an integrated, optimal, and a meaningful manner. This will involve performing system and process modeling, analysis and planning to implement DAI that will meet an Agency's business needs within existing program guidelines and constraints.This may include researching best solutions and practices to meet business requirements.In most cases, the architect will present and translate the DAI design and solution to customers to ensure the design will meet the customers' requirements.

•·Develop and articulate DAI solutions and capabilities based on the strategic business and/or technical requirements. Deliver on the role of ensuring all cross-functional activities are optimized for the entire business process.Define the approach for structuring each application, including determining appropriate use of technology/business solutions and approach.

•·Develop and communicate functional architectural standards, and applicable and pragmatic approaches for implementing the same on DAI.As part of this responsibility/role, the specialist will also define and validate approach and architecture quality attributes.

•·Review and approve all Application design documentation for DAI, and ensures that DAI develops solutions consistent with enterprise application and security standards and policies.

•·Maintains knowledge of Global Model and Program functional priorities, and coordinates between functional, technical, infrastructure, and workforce preparation teams to ensure activities are conducted consistent with functional priorities.

•·Advise DAI PMO on best practices across the program, to optimize program effectiveness.

In order to effectively perform this role, the specialists will have an expert understanding and experience in all Oracle modules, components and partnering systems that are in play in DAI.

•·Task Area 4 (Information and Knowledge Engineering)

The specialists from this Task will provide Compliance Management services, to multiple aspects of DAI.Specifically, the role of the specialists will include, but not be limited to the following:

Provide subject matter expertise and experience in assessing audit readiness, internal control processes, and its methods and practices.

Perform an assessment of DAI program's compliance with applicable federal laws, regulations and policies governing financial management systems, processes and procedures.This will include a review of compliance risks and development of a plan to promote implementation of a coherent internal review program.

Support DAI PMO in its efforts to understand and prioritize their business risks, and develop an internal audit plan to address areas of focus identified by management. The plan may consist of projects designed to help management improve areas where risks are not adequately managed, and/or projects designed to help management monitor those areas where they feel processes are in place to manage the risks.

Assist management in assessing their evolving risk profile and processes in conjunction with risk functions, and in identifying potential improvements. The internal audit service should be enabled by internal audit methodology, technology, and knowledge focused on providing the DAI program and supported agencies with broader coverage of compliance issues and reduced risk of external audit findings through an integrated approach.

Advise DAI on the organization and processes that will support compliance function within the program, and assist DAI in the identification and documentation of Key Control Objectives (KCOs) as documented by Office of the Under Secretary of Defense Comptroller (OUSD(C)).

Perform Compliance Readiness Assessments (CRAs) to identify opportunities for improvement in policies, procedures, and controls for complying with relevant compliance requirements mentioned above.Such CRAs will not constitute "audits" but will provide DAI with comparative analyses to assist in preparation for more formal compliance audits, to be performed at a future date by an external party (e.g., the DoD Office of Inspector General or similar).Ongoing CRAs will be performed on a scheduled basis, and selected areas may be revisited should the underlying compliance requirements be amended by organizations such as OMB, GAO, or other regulatory or governmental standards (.e.g., National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST)) organizations).Such CRAs will include functional processes that are not permitted to be included in Service Organization Control (SOC) reports, such as Continuity of Operations (disaster recovery), and other areas as determined by the DAI office.

•·Task Area 5 (Configuration Management)

The specialists from this Task will provide assistance and oversight to Configuration Management (CM) process, within multiple aspects of the DAI.Specifically, the role of the specialists will include, but not be limited to the following:

•·Planning and Management - Provide total lifecycle CM planning for the program/project, and manage the planning implementation.

•·Configuration Control - Ensure that changes to a configuration baseline are properly identified, recorded, evaluated, approved or disapproved, and incorporated and verified, as appropriate.

•·Configuration Status Accounting - Manage the capture and maintenance of product configuration information necessary to account for the configuration of a product throughout the product life cycle.

•·Configuration Verification and Audit - Establish that the performance and functional requirements defined in the product definition information have been achieved by the design and that the design has been accurately documented in the product definition information.

To accomplish the tasks outlined, the winner of this DAI Global Model effort shall be required to cooperate and work with other contractors support the DAI effort. The work must be conducted on government facilities in the Washington DC area.

Sources Sought:

This Sources Sought Synopsis is requesting responses to the following criteria from interested parties that can provide the required services under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 541712 and 541512.This Synopsis is encouraging responses from any qualified and capable source, including Small Businesses, Service Disabled-Veteran Owned Small Businesses, Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, Women-owned Small Businesses, HUBZone Small Businesses, Small Disadvantaged Small Businesses, Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions, Small Business Joint Ventures, Consortiums and Teaming Partners.This Sources Sought Synopsis is issued to assist the agency in performing market research to determine whether or not there are two or more qualified and capable Small Businesses to provide the aforementioned service.

In order to make a determination for a small business set-aside, two or more qualified and capable small businesses must submit responses that demonstrate their qualifications.Responses must demonstrate the company's ability to perform in accordance with the Limitations on Subcontracting clause (FAR 52.219-14).Interested small businesses meeting the small business standard of NAICS code 541712 and 541512 are requested to submit a response to the POCs provided at the end of this release within 6 calendar days of issuance of this RFI.Late responses will not be considered.Responses should provide the business's DUNS number and CAGE code and include a statement of self certification under the NAICS code.Additionally, responses should include recent (within the past three years or work that is on-going) and relevant experience (work similar in type and scope) to include contract numbers, project titles, dollar amounts, and points of contact with telephone numbers where the responder performed the relevant work.Marketing brochures and/or generic company literature will not be considered.Not addressing all the requested information may result in the Government determining the responder is not capable of performing the scope of work required.

Please note that personnel with current DoD Secret clearances (minimum) will be required at contract award.

Requested Information:

Interested vendors are requested to submit a maximum 15 page statement of their knowledge and capabilities to perform the following:

•a)Describe your experience managing the technical and functional activities associated with operations, maintenance, modifications, engineering, integration, deployment, and schedule of Oracle Financial Based Business Solutions.The experience should include, but not be limited to: experienced technical staffing which possesses, at a minimum, a current NAC LAC investigation; and maintaining a contract workforce of at least 28 FTEs.

•c)Describe your experience and ability to work with the following software products that form the basis of the DAI Global system.Since these products are all ready owned by the government, and have been installed, and configured.Responses should specifically address the products vice similar software.

•·Understanding and appreciation of DoD-related and required Compliance Issues that are necessary in ERP implementations to include the Department of Defense Architectural Framework (DoDAF) and Business Enterprise Architecture (BEA).

•·The technical resources on the Core Global Model Team and the Agency Deployment Team will have extensive Oracle Applications development skills using SQL, PL/SQL, BPEL, and Oracle Developer Tools (Oracle Forms, Oracle Reports, SQL Loader, etc), Oracle Workflow, XML, JAVA, etc.The technical resources will also have enough experience with Oracle Financial Applications so as to understand and contribute to functional discussions in DAI capability areas.

•·Experience in the development and execution of SQL-based scripts to support functional and technical trouble shooting, independently developing basic reports and queries to support PMO and provide operating metrics to DAI PMO, etc

Responses:

Interested vendors should forward their capabilities and other information to be considered to calvin.mcintyre@bta.mil. Responses to this RFI are to be submitted by and RECEIVED by 12:00 PM EST, 15 July, 2011.Responses must be single-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point font, with one inch margins, and compatible with MS Office Word 2003.

Proprietary information and trade secrets, if any, must be clearly marked on all materials.All information received that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly.Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned.All government and contractor personal reviewing RFI responses will have signed non-disclosure agreements and understand their responsibility for proper use and protection from unauthorized disclosure of proprietary information as described 41 USC 423.The Government shall not be held liable for any damages incurred if proprietary information is not properly identified.